Fluorescent lamp starter



Patented Mar. 7, 1 950 FLUORESCENT LAMP STARTER George W. Pearce, Peabody, Mass., assignor to Sylvania Electric Products Inc., Salem, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Application August 16, 1946, Serial No. 690,868

3 Claims. 1

This invention relates to electric gaseous discharge devices and more particularly to a starter therefor.

An object of this invention is to provide a starter for electric gaseous discharge devices and more particularly for fluorescent lamps.

Another object is to provide a fluorescent lamp starter which embodies a cut-out feature therein which will render the starter inoperative if the lamp with which it is used fails to operate after several unsuccessful attempts to start.

A further object is to provide a fluorescent lamp starter in which the several. elements which comprise it are assembled and supported in a new and novel manner which facilitates the manufacturing process and improves the quality of the unit.

Further objects, advantages and features will be apparent from the following specification when read in. conjunction with the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of the starter oi my invention.

Figure 2 is a front elevational view of the starter, similar to Figure 1, with the case in which the parts of the starter are enclosed shown in phantom.

Figure 3 is a bottom plan view of the starter with the base plate removed.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken along the lines 44 of Figure 8 with the base plate added.

The main feature of my invention embodies the idea of providing a starter for electric gaseous discharge devices having a case in which the several parts of the starter are disposed and I which is compartmentalized for the reception therein of the several parts. This arrangement facilitates assembly work in the manufacturing process, insures a uniformly accurate positioning oi the several starter elements with reference to each other and decreases considerably the spoilage or material loss due to defective workmanship.

The starter of my invention comprises a case I provided with several compartments in which the several elements of the starter are seated and a base plate 2 which fits into the open end of the case I, the plate 2 being provided with electrical contact pins 3 and l. The starter case may be employed with other types of starters and cut-outs than the type of starter and cutout shown in the accompanying drawing and described below without departing from the spirit of my invention.

In the starter of my invention I have employed zoo-413.5)

a glow switch 5 which may be of any suitable type. However, other types of switches may also be employed without departing from the spirit of my invention. For example, instead of using a glow switch, one may use a switch of the type shown in U. S. Patents 2,273,056, 2,285,450, 2,305,- 223, and 2,346,109.

The starter of my invention includes a cut-out switch which effects a short circuiting of the starter after the lamp with which it is used fails to light after several attempts. This cut-out switch comprises a bimetallic strip 6 disposed in the case I adjacent to the glow switch 5. In one embodiment the bimetallic strip 6 is actuated by heat from the glow switch 5. The starter of my invention includes means for manually resetting the starter after the cut-out has short circuited it. Resetting of the starter is accomplished by manipulation of a reset rod 1.

As mentioned above the case I is provided with a plurality of compartments for the several starter elements. The glow switch 5 is disposed in compartment 8 and the bimetallic strip 6 is disposed in compartment 9, adjacent thereto. The re-set rod 1 is disposed in a compartment to which extends the entire length of the case I and terminates in an aperture through which an end of the reset rod 1 extends. A condenser I2 is disposed in a compartment l3.

The re-set rod 1 is provided with a lateral extension l4 intermediate its ends which is normally engaged by a protuberance 15 .on the slightly curved bimetallic strip 6 intermediate its ends. Normally the protuberance IS on the bimetallic strip 6 looks the re-set rod 1 in the position shown in Figure 4. An electrical connector clip I6 is mounted on the lower extremity of the reset rod 1 below the lateral extension [4 thereof. One end of the clip I6 is provided with an aperture therein through which the re-set rod 1 is threaded. The other end of the clip 16 normally engages an electrical conductor plate I! which is seated in a recess provided therefor in the case I. The function and purpose of the clip l6 and the plate ll will be described more fully below in connection with the operation of the starter.

A resilient electrical conducting means, such as a spring I8 is threaded on the lower end of the reset rod "I and the inner end thereof normally engages the end of the clip l6 which is threaded on the re-set rod 1. The outer end of the spring l8 engages the contact pin 3 on the base plate 2 when the base plate is connected to the case I. If desired, the spring l8 may be of a type calculated to develop considerable heat on the passage of current therethrough and thus provide the heat necessary to actuate the bimetallic member 6. In this case the bimetalli member 6 may be insulated from the glow switch 5. A similar resilient electrical conducting means I 9 is disposed in a compartment 20 in the case I and its outer end engages the contact pin 4 on the base plate 2.

Figure 3 illustrates the manner in which lead wires from the condenser l2 and the glow switch are connected to the other elements of the starter. Lead wire 2| from the condenser and lead wire 22 from the glow switch are bent over to engage the spring l9. Lead wire 23 from the condenser and lead wire 24 from the glow switch are bent over to engage the electrical connector plate l1. As shown in Figure 3 the case i is provided with a hole 25. A similar hole is provided in the base plate 2 through which a screw, rivet or the'like may be inserted to secure the base plate 2 to the case I.

I operation in a fluorescent lamp circuit, the circuit through the starter is as follows: through the base pin 4, the spring [9 and into the glow switch 5 through lead-wire 22, from the glow switch through lead-wire 24 to the plate l1, through the clip IS on the re-set rod 1, through the spring 18 and through the base pin 3. The lead wires 2| and 23 from the condenser l2 are connected to the spring I!) and the plate I! respectively. A fluorescent lamp circuit such as that shown in U. S. Patent 2,351,440 or U. S. Patent 2,285,450 may be used.

When the circuit through the starter is first energized the glow switch 5 functions to preheat the electrodes of the fluorescent lamp to electron emitting temperatures. If the lamp is not defective it will normally start after one or two cycles of operation of the glow switch. If the lamp is defective the glow switch will operate for several cycles and then the heat generated thereby in the glow switch will deform the bimetallic strip 6 sufficiently to release the re-set rod 1 which is normally held in the position shown in Figure 4 by the protuberance IS on the bimetallic strip which-engages the lateral extension M on the re'-set rod 1. When the re-set rod 1 is released, the spring I 8, which is normally under thereof extending out of said aperture, said rod normally being held therein by its engagement with said bimetallic strip, a spring disposed in a compartment in said case, one of the lead wires from said glow switch engaging said spring, a second spring mounted on said elongated rod on it end adjacent the open end of said case, a metal clip connecting the other of said glow switch lead wires to said second spring, said clip having an eye in one end thereof through which the clip is threaded on the elongated rod above said second spring, said connection being adapted to be broken by actuation of the bimetallic strip effected by heat received from the glow switch, a base plate, contact pins connected to said base plate, and means for securing said base plate to said case at the open end thereof, whereby said contact pins will make positive contact with said springs.

2. A starter for electric gaseous discharge devices comprising: a case open at one end and provided with a plurality of compartments therein; a switch disposed in one of said compartments; a pair of spiral springs, each disposed in a separate compartment in said case and connected to said switch; a base plate closing the open end of said case; and a pair of contact pins mounted in said base plate, each contact pin being in positive engagement with one of said spiral springs.

3. A starter for electric gaseous discharge devices comprising: a case open at one end and provided with a plurality of compartments therein, one of said compartments extending the length of said case and terminating in an aperture in the closed end thereof; a glow switch, having a pair of lead wires extending therefrom, disposed in one of said compartments; a bimetallic strip disposed in another of said compartments and in heat-receiving relationship with respect to said glow switch, said stri having a protuberance intermediate its ends; an

, elongated rod slidably disposed in the compartcompression, will distend and push the re-set rod 1 upwardly. When this occurs, the circuit through the plate H, the clip l6, and the spring l8 will be broken because the clip I 6 will have moved upwardly with the re-set rod and disengaged itself from its contact with the plate [1. The starter will remain cut out of the lamp circuit until an operator re-sets the rod 1 by depressing it until it assumes its normal position as shown in Figure 4. This is usually done after the defective lamp has been removed and a new one installed.

What I claim is:

1. A starter for electric gaseous discharge devices comprising a case open at one end and provided with a plurality of compartments therein, one of said compartments extending the length of said case and terminating in an aperture in the closed end thereof, a glow switch disposed in one of said compartments, a pair of lead wires extending from said glow switch, a bimetallic strip disposed in another of said compartments and in heat-receiving relationship with respect to said glow switch, an elongated rod disposed in the compartment which terminates in an aperture in the closed end of said case with an end ment which terminates in an aperture with an end thereof extending out of said aperture, said rod having a projection thereof intermediate its ends which normally engages the protuberance on said bimetallic strip and is held in normal position thereby; a spiral spring disposed in a compartment in said case, one of the lead wires from said glow switch being connected thereto; a second spiral spring mounted on said elongated rod on the end thereof adjacent to the open end of said case, the other of the glow switch lead wires being connected thereto; a, base plate closing the open end of said case; and a pair of contact pins mounted in said base plate, each contact pin being in positive engagement with one of said spiral springs.

GEORGE W. PEARCE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record 

